in botany: A genus of plants belonging to the order of diandria, and to the class of gynandra; and in the natural system arranged under the 7th order, Orchideae. The nectarium is egg-shaped and gibbous, with an egg-shaped lip. The species, according to Linnæus, are ten. 1. Latifolia; 2. Longifolia; 3. Grandiflora, or ensifolia; 4. Lanciflora; 5. Rubra; 6. Lingua; 7. Cordigera; 8. Capensis; 9. Erecta; 10. Falcatia. The three first are natives of Britain. 1. The Latiflora, or broad-leaved helleborine, is distinguished by fibrous bulbs, by ovate stem-clapping leaves, and pendulous flowers. The stalk is erect, about a cubit high, and furnished with six or eight nervous oval leaves; the spike is about six inches long; the three upper petals are of a green colour, and of an oval acute form; the lateral ones are a little shorter, and of a white colour, with a little tinge of green. 2. The Palustris, or marsh helleborine, grows in rough boggy pastures and marshes, and flowers in July. It is distinguished by fibrous bulbs, sword-shaped sefifie leaves, pendulous flowers; and the lip of the nectarium is obtuse, somewhat ferrated, and longer than the petals. The flowers grow to the number of 15 or 20 in a loose spike. The three exterior petals are green mixed with red; the lateral ones are white with a red blush; and the nectarium is marked with red lines and yellow tuberculous spots. 3. The Grandiflora, or white-flowered helleborine, grows in woods, and flowers in June. Its characteristics are, fibrous bulbs, sword-shaped leaves, erect flowers; and the lip of the nectarium is obtuse and shorter than the petals. The flowers are large and erect, and consisting of six or eight in a thin spike; the petals are all white, and connive together; the lip of the nectarium is inclosed within the petals, is white and streaked with three yellow prominent lines.